Collator

ABSTRACT

A machine for sorting multiple copies into separate bins, comprising a carriage holding vertically spaced bins and a transmission for lowering the carriage after each new copy is received and thereafter raising it to an uppermost position for facilitating removal of sheets from the bins. An overflow conveyor belt is mounted on the carriage above the uppermost bin, to transport excess copies to an output that can lead to another similar collating machine. The transmission includes a pair of substantially elliptical gears that make one revolution for every indexing of the carriage to bring a new bin into a sheetreceiving position, the elliptical gears providing smooth acceleration and deceleration of the bins.

United 3 States Patent [1 1 Post et al. [451 Apr. 9,1974

[ COLLATOR [75] Inventors: Gerald Post, Kew Gardens, N.Y.;[Slammer-Robert Mlche" Luciano Rattin, Pino Torinese, Italy [73]Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C. S.p.A., lvrea,

Italy [22] Filed: Oct. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 187,671

[52] US. Cl. 270/58, 271/64 [51] Int. Cl B65h 39/02 [58] Field of Search270/58; 271/64; 312/50, 312/60, 312, 268; 74/393, 437

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 615,636 12/1898 Regensteiner271/64 3,638,937 2/1972 Schulz et al. 270/58 3,613,470 10/1971 Arakawa74/393 3,361,510. 1/1968 McDerrnott 312/312 3,004,758 10/1961 Mestre270/58 2,093,992 9/1937 Braam 271/64 3,467,371 9/1969 Britt et al 270/58Assistant Examiner-L. R. Oremland Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lindennerg,Freilich &

Wasserman [5 7] ABSTRACT A machine for sorting multiple copies intoseparate bins, comprising a carriage holding vertically spaced bins anda transmission for lowering the carriage after each new copy is receivedand thereafter raising it to an uppermost position for facilitatingremoval of sheets from the bins. An overflow conveyor belt is mounted onthe carriage above the uppermost bin, to transport excess copies to anoutput that can lead to another similar collating machine. Thetransmission includes a pair of substantially elliptical gears that makeone revolution for every indexing of the carriage to bring a new bininto a sheet-receiving position, the elliptical gears providing smoothacceleration and deceleration of the bins.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures MENTEDAPR 9 m4 SHEET 1 0f 5 N w mw mw 0. mmU ML 5 Jlllhh mini iihm QTTOQAIE vs PATENTEUAPR 9 m4 SHEET 3 (If 5INVENToQ 65201.0 Pos'r By LUCY/4N0 6 B/ITf/A/ COLLATOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to sorting or collating apparatus forusewith paper sheets and the like.

When many copies are made of a document that has many pages, sorting orcollating apparatus with multiple bins may be used to separate thecopies so that each bin contains one copy of each page of the document.One type of collating machine has stationary bins and numerous rollersthat direct succeeding sheets into s'uccessive bins. However, therequirement for many rollers and switching devices can result in acomplicated machine. Furthermore, in copying processes wherein thesheets may still be wet or damp, it is desirable that there be a minimumof sheet handling, and particularly that the sheets not be pressedbetween rollers.

A minimum of sheet handling is possible by the use of a collatingmachine with multiple bins that move past a sheet-receiving station.However, this can lead to limitations as to the number of bins that canbe provided. The number of bins may be limited in a moving bin machinebecause of the large mass that may have to be moved, particularly wherethe multiple bins have to be rapidly accelerated and decelerated tobring successive bins into a position to receive thenext sheet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I In accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention, a collating machine of minimum complexity is providedwhich can handle wet copies without smearing the image, and which isuseful in collating a large number of copies. The apparatus includes aplurality of vertically spaced bins mounted on a carriage that can moveup and down along a frame. Sheets are received at an input opening ofthe frame for moving directly into a bin opposite the opening. Aftereach sheet is received the carriage indexes downwardly to bring a newbin into position opposite the input opening. An overflow conveyor beltis mounted at a position above the uppermost bin, so that after the lastbin has received a sheet, further copies are transported along theconveyor belt to an output. Another similar collating machine can bemounted at the output to receive and collate the excess copies. Thus,while each machine has a limited number of bins, several machines can bemounted in series for collating a large number of copies.

The transmission which moves the carriage includes a pair of ellipticalgears which make one revolution for each indexing of the carriage to anew bin position. The elliptical gears provide a smooth acceleration ofthe carriage to a new position and smooth deceleration in a relativelysimple mechanism. The fact that the carriage indexes downwardly meansthat the motor driven transmission merely has to brake the carriagemovement rather than apply powerto rapidly accelerate and decelerate it.Such braking is facilitated by the use of a worm drive in thetransmission to prevent uncontrolled carriage lowering, the motorsupplying only enough power to run the worm without applying anyadditional power to it. After collating all copies of a document page,the motor drives the carriage at a constant speed to its uppermostposition, where the carriage then stops. With the carriage stopped atits uppermost position, a minimal bending is required by a humanoperator to remove copies from the bins.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. The invention will be best understood from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acollator constructed in accordance with the invention, shown used with acopier machine;

FIG. 2 is a rear view taken on the line 22 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the collator of FIG. 1, shown in usewith another. similar collator;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the drive transmission of the.collator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the transmission of FIG.

FIG. 6 isa view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 2, showing the overflowconveyor thereof;

FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the overflow conveyor of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of acontrol circuit of the copier of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a collatingmachine 10 being used to collate or sort copies received from a copier12. The copier 12 maybe an electrostatic copier or ink type duplicator,and in many cases the sheets 14 exit from the copier output in a damp orwet condition. The collator 10 is designed to place multiple copies of adocument page into separate bins 18 with a minimum of handling andparticularly without applying a roller or the like to an upper surfaceof the copy, to thereby prevent smearing. The collator 10 has a limitednumber of bins such as twenty, so that only the first 20 copies of adocument sheet can be stored in the bins. However, the apparatus is alsoprovided with an overflow mechanism 22 that can carry the twenty-firstand succeeding copies to an output region 23. Where only one collatingmachine 10 is available, the overflow copies may be caught in a tray 24.However, the overflow copies can be collated by utilizing anothercollating machine 10 similar to machine 10, in the manner shown in FIG.3, to collate the overflow copies in its bins.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the collator 10 includes a carriage 26 which ismounted for up and down movement on a machine frame 28, the carriage 26carrying the multiple bins I8 and the overflow conveyor 22 with it. Adrive apparatus 30 powered by an electric motor is connected by a chain32 to the carriage to move it up and down. The carriage 26 starts in anuppermost position with the lowermost bin 18L located adjacent to theinput region 16 to receive the first copy. After each copy is received,the drive 30 lowers the carriage 26 by a distance equal to the verticalspacing S of the bins on the carriage. When the last copy of a series isreceived, the carriage moves upward back to its original position andstops, to await the arrival of the first copy of the next series. Ifthere are more than twenty copies in a series, then after the uppermostor highest bin 18H receives a copy, the carriage indexes down so thatthe overflow conveyor 22 can receive succeeding copies to carry them tothe output 23. When the last overflow copy is received, the carriagereturns to its uppermost position.

During downward indexing of the carriage, it is desirable to move thecarriage rapidly between the indexing positions where bins can receivecopies, and to stop the bins or move them very slowly past the positionswhere the bins are in line to receive copies. FIGS. 4-6 illustrate thetransmission of the apparatus which indexes the carriage downwardly andraises it up again. As best shown in FIG. 4, an electric motor 34supplies power that is coupled through various elements to a sprocket 36that drives the chain 32 which can raise and lower the carriage. Duringdownward indexing of the carriage, power from the motor is transmittedthrough a pair of substantially elliptical gears 38, 40 of thetransmission to repeatedly accelerate and decelerate the carriage as itis lowered. The transmission is constructed so that the elliptical gears38, 40 make one revolution for each indexing of the carriage to bring anew bin into position to receive a copy. The elliptical gears aremounted so that the' carriage moves slowly past each index positionwhere a bin can receive a sheet, and then moves rapidly to the nextindex position. This is accomplished by mounting the elliptical gears sothat the smallest radius portion of the driving gear 38 engages thelargest radius portion of the driven gear 40 as each bin reaches aposition to receive a sheet. The use of elliptical gears to transmitpower, with the gears making one revolution for each indexing of thecarriage to a new position, provides a relatively simple mechanism forsmooth acceleration and deceleration of the bins.

The drive mechanism 30 includes a first shaft 42 that is always rotatedin the direction of arrow 44 by the motor 34, and a second shaft 46 thatrotates in either two directions, depending on whether the carriage isbeing raised or lowered. During lowering of the carriage, when it movesin steps to fill the bins, the second shaft rotates in the direction ofarrow L. During raising of the carriage, when the carriage is rapidlymoved up at a constant speed, the second shaft moves in the oppositedirection as indicated by arrow R. A sprocket 48 that is fixed to thesecond shaft 46 drives a chain that turns another sprocket 50, whichtransmits power through a pair of bevel gears 52 to a worm 54. The worm54 drives a worm gear 56 that drives the I sprocket 36. As earliermentioned, the sprocket 36 drives the chain 32 that is connected to thecarriage to raise and lower it.

When the transmission is to be driven so as to lower the carriage, alowering solenoid 56 is energized. Solenoid 56 operates a clutch 58 thatcauses the elliptical gear 38 to be positively driven from the firstshaft 42, so that the gear 38 rotates in the direction of arrow 44. Theclutch apparatus includes a clutch plate 60 that is fixed to the firstshaft 42 to always rotate with it and a second clutch plate 62 that canbe engaged with the first clutch plate when the solenoid is energized.The second clutch plate 62 is fixed to the first elliptical gear 38 todrive it. It should be noted that the gear 38 is mounted for freerotation on the shaft 42, so it could remain stationary unless theclutch is energized. The first elliptical gear 38 drives the second gear40 which is fixed to a differential gear 64. Both the second gear 40 anddifferential gear 64 are freely rotatable on the second shaft 46. Thedifferential gear 64 is engaged with spider gears 66 that freely rotateon a spider shaft 68 that is fixed to the second shaft 46. A seconddifferential gear 70 is also engaged with the spider gear 66. If thissecond differential gear 70 is stationary, then the spider gear 66 willrotate slowly in accordance with rotation of the first differential gear64. As a result, the spider shaft 68 and second shaft 46 will be rotatedin the direction of arrow L at one-half the speed of rotation of theelliptical gear 40 and first differential gear In order to assure thatthe second differential gear 70 remains stationary, it is fixed to a camwheel 72 that is engaged by a roller 74 that prevents its rotation inthe direction of arrow L. Thus, the spider shaft 68 and shaft 46 aredriven in the direction of arrow L and they drive the sprocket 48 in thedirection of arrow L. The sprocket 48 therefore drovesthe rest of thetransmission to rotate the output sprocket 36 in a direction that lowersthe carriage. The carriage, and bins thereon therefore descend, movingslowly while each bin receives a sheet and then accelerating and againslowing as the next bin is positioned to receive a sheet.

When the carriage must be raised to its uppermost position, a raisingsolenoid 76 is energized but the lowering solenoid 56 is not energized.The way in which this causes raising of the carriage can be understoodby noting that the motor constantly rotates the first shaft 42 in thedirection of arrow 44. A sprocket 78 fixed to the first shaft 42 drivesanother sprocket 80 that is free to rotate on the second shaft 46 andwhich is fixed to a clutch plate 82. When the raising solenoid 76 isenergized, it operates a clutch mechanism 84 that engages the drivenclutch plate 82, that is rotating in the direction of arrow R, with asecond clutch plate 86. The second plate 86 is fixed to the seconddifferential gear 70 and also to the cam wheel 72. Thus, with theraising solenoid 76 energized, the second differential gear 70 is drivenin the direction of arrow R. It may be noted that the cam wheel 72 canrotate in the direction of arrow R without interference from roller 74.

The second differential gear 70, which is rotating in the direction ofarrow R during raising of the carriage, is engaged with the spider gears66. During rotation of the second differential gear 70, the firstdifferential gear 64 is held stationary, as will be described below.Accordingly, the spider shaft 68 rotates in the direction of arrow R atone-half the speed of the second differential gear 70. Since the spidershaft 68 is fixed to the second shaft 46, the second shaft 46 thereforerotates in the direction of arrow R and therefore drives the sprocket 48in that direction. The rest of the transmission accordingly drives theoutput sprocket 36 in a direction that raises the carriage.

In order to assure that the spider shaft 68 will rotate in the directionof arrow R, the first differential gear 64 must be prevented from beingdragged in the direction of arrow R. This is assured becausedifferential gear 64 is fixed to the elliptical gear 40, which isengaged with the other gear 38 which is engaged with another cam wheel88. Another roller engaged with the cam wheel 88 prevents rotation ofthe cam wheel 88 in the direction of arrow 92, thereby preventingrotation of the first differential gear 64 in the direction of arrow Rand thereby assuring that it remains stationary. The

sizes of the sprockets'78, 80 that couple the first and second shaftsare chosen so that the carriage moves more rapidly in an upwarddirection than in a downward direction. Thus, control of upward anddownward carriage movement is accomplished by energizing the solenoids56, 76. When neither solenoid is energized, generally the carriage willnot move up or down, although another solenoidcan be employed to operatea brake at such times to prevent any carriage movement.

The worm drive of the transmission, formed by the worm 54 and worm gear56 assures that the carriage cannot drive the transmission, andtherefore the speed at which the carriage is lowered is easilycontrolled regardless of the mass of the carriage. Actually, the onlypower that need be supplied by the motor and transmission is enoughpower to rotate the worm 54. The weight of the carriage less that of acounterweight 93 on the chain, supplies all of the force that isnecessary to lower it. This is advantageous because it permits the useof a smaller motor to control carriage movement as it is lowered.

As shown in FIG. 2, the chain 32 that is driven by the sprocket 36,extends in a loop about another sprocket 94 that is located at the topof the frame of the machine. The chain is fixed at 98 to the carriage26. The carriage is guided in up and down movement along the frame 28 bythree ball bearing glides 102-104(FIG. 7) that assure low frictionmovement.

The overflow apparatus 22 which is brought into position to carry awayexcess copies after all of the bins are filled, includes three belts 110that extend in a loop path around a pair of rollers 112, 114. Both ofthe rollers 112, 114 are rotatably mounted-on the carriage 26 near thetop thereof. A gear 116 (FIG. 2) is fixed to one of the rollers 112 andcan receive power to drive the roller and therefore drive the belts. Thegear 116 can engage another, constantly rotating drive pinion 118 thatis rotatably amounted on the frame 28 of the machine. The drive pinion118 has a sprocket 120 driven by a chain 122 from another sprocket 124that is mounted on the shaft of the motor 34. The pinion 118 isconstantly rotating, but it engages the other gear 116 to drive theoverflow belt, only when the carriage is in its lowermost position toreceive the overflow copies. At other times, when the carriage is aboveits lowermost position, the gear 116 is above the drive gear 118 and thebelt is not rotated. Thus, the pinion 118serves as a rotary overflowdrive member that is constantly driven, but which only occasionallyengages the driven gear member 116 that is connected to the conveyorbelts 110.

ln order to hold down sheets of paper to the belt 110, it is constructedwith numerous perforations that can apply a partial pressure, or vacuum,to the underside of the sheet to hold it down. The upper portion of thelooped belt moves over a perforated plate 126 (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) whoseunderside opens to a vacuum region 128. The region 128 can be maintainedat a partial pressure by a blower 130 which is driven by a separateblower motor 132. When the overflow apparatus is operating, the intakeof the blower 130 is connected to the vacuum region 128 by a hose 13]fixed to the blower intake and another hose 133 fixed to the car- -riageand leading to the vacuum region 128. The

blower 130 and its motor are fixed to the machine frame, so they do notride up and down with the carriage. However, as the carriage moves toits lowermost position, the two hoses 131, 133 become connected so thatair can be pumped through them. While the blower could operate at alltimes, it is noisy and therefore it is desirable to operate the bloweronly when it is needed. Accordingly; a contact switch portion 136 iselectrically connected between a power cable 134 and the motor 132 toturn on the motor only when the carriage 126 arrives at its lowermostposition.

In order to accurately synchronize downward movement of the carriagewith the receipt of sheets to be collated, a photoelectric sensor (seeFIG. 2) is provided at 140 to sense sheets entering through the inputopening 16 of the machine. A light source 142 shines a light across theinput opening 16 towards the photosensor 140 so that light reaches itexcept when a sheet is present. The sensor 140 is connected to a controlcircuit shown in a simplified diagram in FIG. 10, that controlsenergization of the lowering and raising solenoids 56, 76 that determinethe carriage moves up or down or remains stationary.

The control circuit of FIG. 10 is shown in a condition wherein thecarriage is in its uppermost position, and a first copy is entering thecollator. The control circuit includes a sensing relay 144 operated bythe detector 140, which has a switch member 146 that respectively movesagainst contact 148 or contact 150 as the leading or trailing edge of asheet moves past the detector 140. When the leading edge of a sheet issensed, current from a power line 152 flows through the switch member146 and contact 148, and through a relay coil 154 to the otherpowerline156. The relay coil 154 then closes a pair of switches 158 and 160, theswitch 158 serving to latch on the relay coil. Switch 160 is in serieswith the lowering solenoid 56 but cannot yet carry current from thepower line 152 to solenoid 56. When the trailing edge of the sheetpasses the detector 140, the member I46 moves against contact 150, andcurrent can flow through the lowering or down solenoid 56.

The flow of current through the down solenoid 56 causes the carriage tomove down until it approaches the next index position, when a cam 162attached to shaft 46 of the drive apparatus opens a switch 164 tobriefly break the circuit that is energizing the relay coil 154. As aresult, switch 160 opens and the down solenoid 56 is deenergized. Thetransmission coasts far enough so that the cam 162 releases switch 164and it again closes. The next copy received by the collator repeats thecycle.

When the carriage reaches its lowermost position, it operates two switchportions 166 and 136 of a lower limit switch assembly 165. Specifically,at the lowermost carriage position the contacts of switch portion 166are opened, thereby preventing further actuation of the down solenoid56. Also, the contacts of switch portion 136 are closed, therebyallowing current to flow through the blower motor 130.

The carriage remains in its lowest position until a restore or signalingswitch 170, located in the copying machine 12 is operated so that aswitch member 172 thereof moves away from contact 174 thereof andagainst contact 176 thereof. Such operation of the switch singals thatthe last copy ofa group of multiple copies of a document has beendelivered. This switch is operated by circuitry (not shown) in thecopying machine, which moves switch member 172 against contact 176 ashort time after the last copy of a document has been made, this shortperiod being just long enough for the last copy to reach the collator.After the trailing edge of the last copy has passed the detector 140,the sensing switch member 146 moves against contact 150, and currentflows through the raising or up solenoid 76. The carriage then moves upuntil it operates an upper limit switch 178 to terminate the flow ofcurrent to the up solenoid 76. A short period after the first copy ofanother document is made, the copying machine operates its switch 170 sothat the switch member 172 thereof moves against contact 174 to allowdownward indexing to begin again. Of course, a variety of controlcircuits can be employed, including a circuit within the collator thatincludes a timer which operates a switch similar to switch 170 if nodocument is received after a certain period longer than the normalperiod between the generation of succeeding copies of a document.

The driving and transmission apparatus 30, which is shown located at therear of the collator, could instead be located at the bottom of themachine. However, by locating the transmission at the rear, space ismade available near the floor to accomodate bins so that more bins canbe mounted on the carriage. The design of the collator so that thecarriage indexes downwardly and then rises to an uppermost positionwhere it awaits the first copy of the next series, facilitates use by ahuman operator. The operator removes copies from the bins by insertingher fingers into the sides of the bins through an opening 150 (FIG. 1)in the frame. The fact that the bins are as high as possible means thatthere is a minimum of bending required of the operator, even in removingsheets from the lowermost bin.

Thus, the invention provides a collating machine of moderate size thatcan collate a moderate amount of copies, but which can be used incollating a much larger number of copies, by the use of an overflowmechanism. The overflow mechanism allows excess copies to be captured ina bin or to be fed into another similar collating machine that cancollate the excess copies. The collating apparatus directs copies intodifferent bins without contacting the upper face of the copies, so thatthere is no smearing of the copies even if they are not yet dry. Theapparatus utilizes a carriage that moves multiple bins past an opening,and utilizes a transmission with substantially elliptical gears toprovide smooth acceleration and deceleration of the bins between thepositions at which they must move slowly or stop in order to receivecopies. The apparatus is constructed so that the carriage indexesdownwardly and then is rapidly raised to an uppermost position where itawaits the arrival of the first copy of another series. This minimizesthe power required to move the carriage, and allows a worm and wormwheeldrive mechanism to be utilized to prevent uncontrolled lowering of thebin. The fact that the bins stop in an uppermost position minimizes theamount of bending required by an human operator.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variationsmay readily occur to those skilled in the art and, consequently, it isintended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications andequivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. Collating apparatus comprising:

a frame having a sheet input region and a sheet output region;

a carriage mounted for movement along said frame, said carriage defininga plurality of successively spaced positions including a first pluralityof positions and a last position;

a plurality of sheet-holding bins mounted on said carriage at said firstplurality of positions, to successively receive sheets arriving at saidsheet input region as said carriage moves along said frame;

overflow conveyor means mounted on said carriage at said last positionthereon to receive sheets from said input region after said bins havereceived sheets, for carrying sheets received from said sheet inputregion to said sheet output region; and

means for moving said carriage along said frame.

2. Collating apparatus comprising:

a frame having a sheet input region at a predetermined height, andhaving a sheet output region;

a carriage;

means mounting said carriage on said frame for substantially verticalmovement thereon;

a plurality of vertically spaced bins mounted on said carriage, forsuccessive movement past said sheet input region;

conveyor means mounted on said carriage above the uppermost of said binsfor carrying sheets from said input region to said output region; and

motor means including a transmission coupled to said carriage for movingit up and down, said transmission including a first portion activatableto lower said carriage with a variable speed so that it at least slowsas each bin is near a position to receive a sheet from said input regionand then accelerates, said first portion capable of lowering thecarriage until the conveyor means is opposite the input region, and asecond portion for raising said carriage to an uppermost position.

3. Apparatus for collating sheets from a sheet feeding means comprising:

a frame having a sheet input region for receiving sheets from the sheetfeeding means, and having a sheet output region;

a carriage mounted for movement along said frame, said carriage defininga plurality of successively spaced positions including a first pluralityof positions and a last position;

a plurality of sheet-holding bins mounted on said carriage at said firstplurality of positions, to successively receive sheets arriving at saidsheet input region as said carriage moves along said frame;

overflow conveyor means mounted on said carriage at said last positionthereon to receive sheets from said input region after said bins havereceived sheets, for carrying sheets received from said sheet inputregion to said sheet output region;

means for moving said carriage along said frame, including motor meansand a first transmission portion coupling the motor means to thecarriage for selectively driving it;

a rotary overflow drive member mounted on said frame at a predeterminedlocation thereon;

a rotary overflow driven member mounted on said carriage at a locationfor engaging and disengaging said drive member as said carriage isrespectively moved to and away from a location where said overflow meansis positioned to receive sheets from said sheet input region, and meansconnecting said driven member to said overflow conveyor means; and

a second transmission portion coupling said motor means to said drivemember to continuously rotate 4. Apparatus for collating sheets from asheet feeding means comprising:

a frame having a sheet input region for receiving sheets from the sheetfeeding means, and having a sheet output region;

a carriage mounted for movement along said frame, said carriage defininga plurality of successively spaced positions including a first pluralityof positions and a last position;

a plurality of sheetholding bins mounted on said carriage at said firstplurality of positions, to successively receive sheets arrivingat saidsheet input region as said carrige moves along said frame;

overflow conveyor means mounted on said carriage at said last positionthereon to receive sheets from said input region after said bins havereceived sheets, for carrying sheets received from said sheet inputregion to said sheet output region, said overflow conveyor meansincluding a perforated belt and roller means for driving said belt in anendless path;

air pump means having an intake positioned for coupling to said belt todraw air through said perforations, a pump motor coupled to said pumpmeans to drive it, and switch means responsive to the position of saidcarriage for turning said pump motor on and off as said overflowconveyormeans respectively reaches and moves away from a position to receivesheets from said sheet input region; and

means for moving said carriage along said frame.

5. The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein:

said overflow conveyor means includes means mounted on said carriageforming a vacuum chamber leading to said belt to draw air through saidperforations thereinto, and first hose means mounted on said carriage,said hose means having a first end connected to said vacuum chamber andan open second end; and

said air pump means is fixed to said frame so that it does not move withsaid carriage along said frame, and said air pump means includes secondhose means having one end connected to said intake and a second endpositioned to engage and disengage said second end of said first hosemeans as said overflow means respectively reaches and moves away from aposition to receive sheets from said input region.

6. Apparatus for collating sheets from a sheet feeding means,comprising:

a frame having a sheet input region for receiving sheets from the sheetfeeding means; a carriage having a plurality of uniformly spaced bins;

means for guiding said carriage on said frame in substantially verticalmovement therealong so that said bins successively pass adjacent to saidinput region;

a motor; and

a transmission coupling said motor to said carriage to moveit along saidframe, said transmission including a pair of substantially ellipticalgears mounted for one rotation at every movement of said carriage by adistance equal to the spacing of said bins along said carriage, a firstof said gears driving a second of said gears to move said carriage, saidfirst gear having a portion of smallest radius engaged with a portion ofsaidsecond gear of greatest radius substantially as each bin reaches aposition to receive a sheet from said sheet input region;

said transmission also including a worm, a worm gear engaged by saidworm, and means coupling said worm gear to said carriage to move it upand down, and said transmission also includes means coupling said motorto said worm selectively through said substantially elliptical gears tomove said carriage downwardly or through a transmission portion thatbypasses said elliptical gears to move said carriage upwardly, wherebyrapid acceleration of said carriage during indexing of the bins can beaccomplished with a minimum of power.

7. Apparatus for collating sheets from a sheet feeding means,comprising:

a frame having an input opening for receiving sheets from the sheetfeeding means, and having an output opening;

a carriage mounted for vertical movement on said frame;

a plurality of bins mounted on said carriage so they are verticallyspaced from each other;

an overflow conveyor mounted above the uppermost of said bins, includinga pair of rollers respectively adjacent to said input and outputopenings and a belt extending in a closed path about said rollers;

means for detecting sheets at said input openings;

means responsive to said detecting means for downwardly indexing saidcarriage so that said bins and then said overflow conveyor aresuccessively positioned opposite saidinput opening; and

means for raising said carriage at a substantially constant speed, andthen stopping it when the lowermost of said bins is positioned. oppositesaid input opening.

8. The apparatus described in claim 7 including:

a reproducing machine for making multiple copies of a document, saidreproducing machine having a reproducing machine output positionedadjacent to said input opening of said frame to feed copies thereto, andhaving electrical signaling means which operate when the last of a groupof multiple copies of one document passes through said reproducingmachine output; and

drive means mounted in said frame and coupled to said signaling meansand to said carriage for immediately moving said carriage upwardly toits uppermost position upon the operation of said signaling means.

1. Collating apparatus comprising: a frame having a sheet input regionand a sheet output region; a carriage mounted for movement along saidframe, said carriage defining a plurality of successively spacedpositions including a first plurality of positions and a last position;a plurality of sheet-holding bins mounted on said carriage at said firstplurality of positions, to successively receive sheets arriving at saidsheet input region as said carriage moves along said frame; overflowconveyor means mounted on said carriage at said last position thereon toreceive sheets from said input region after said bins have receivedsheets, for carrying sheets received from said sheet input region tosaid sheet output region; and means for moving said carriage along saidframe.
 2. Collating apparatus comprising: a frame having a sheet inputregion at a predetermined height, and having a sheet output region; acarriage; means mounting said carriage on said frame for substantiallyvertical movement thereon; a plurality of vertically spaced bins mountedon said carriage, for successive movement past said sheet input region;conveyor means mounted on said carriage above the uppermost of said binsfor carrying sheets from said input region to said output region; andmotor means including a transmission coupled to said carriage for movingit up and down, said transmission including a first portion activatableto lower said carriage with a variable speed so that it at least slowsas each bin is near a position to receive a sheet from said input regionand then accelerates, said first portion capable of lowering thecarriage until the conveyor means is opposite the input region, and asecond portion for raising said carriage to an uppermost position. 3.Apparatus for collating sheets from a sheet feeding means comprising: aframe having a sheet input region for receiving sheets from the sheetfeeding means, and having a sheet output region; a carriage mounted formovement along said frame, said carriage defining a plurality ofsuccessively spaced positions including a first plurality of positionsand a last position; a plurality of sheet-holding bins mounted on saidcarriage at said first plurality of positions, to successively receivesheets arriving at said sheet input region as said carriage moves alongsaid frame; overflow conveyor means mounted on said carriage at saidlast position thereon to receive sheets from said input region aftersaid bins have received sheets, for carrying sheets received from Saidsheet input region to said sheet output region; means for moving saidcarriage along said frame, including motor means and a firsttransmission portion coupling the motor means to the carriage forselectively driving it; a rotary overflow drive member mounted on saidframe at a predetermined location thereon; a rotary overflow drivenmember mounted on said carriage at a location for engaging anddisengaging said drive member as said carriage is respectively moved toand away from a location where said overflow means is positioned toreceive sheets from said sheet input region, and means connecting saiddriven member to said overflow conveyor means; and a second transmissionportion coupling said motor means to said drive member to continuouslyrotate it.
 4. Apparatus for collating sheets from a sheet feeding meanscomprising: a frame having a sheet input region for receiving sheetsfrom the sheet feeding means, and having a sheet output region; acarriage mounted for movement along said frame, said carriage defining aplurality of successively spaced positions including a first pluralityof positions and a last position; a plurality of sheet-holding binsmounted on said carriage at said first plurality of positions, tosuccessively receive sheets arriving at said sheet input region as saidcarriage moves along said frame; overflow conveyor means mounted on saidcarriage at said last position thereon to receive sheets from said inputregion after said bins have received sheets, for carrying sheetsreceived from said sheet input region to said sheet output region, saidoverflow conveyor means including a perforated belt and roller means fordriving said belt in an endless path; air pump means having an intakepositioned for coupling to said belt to draw air through saidperforations, a pump motor coupled to said pump means to drive it, andswitch means responsive to the position of said carriage for turningsaid pump motor on and off as said overflow conveyor means respectivelyreaches and moves away from a position to receive sheets from said sheetinput region; and means for moving said carriage along said frame. 5.The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein: said overflow conveyor meansincludes means mounted on said carriage forming a vacuum chamber leadingto said belt to draw air through said perforations thereinto, and firsthose means mounted on said carriage, said hose means having a first endconnected to said vacuum chamber and an open second end; and said airpump means is fixed to said frame so that it does not move with saidcarriage along said frame, and said air pump means includes second hosemeans having one end connected to said intake and a second endpositioned to engage and disengage said second end of said first hosemeans as said overflow means respectively reaches and moves away from aposition to receive sheets from said input region.
 6. Apparatus forcollating sheets from a sheet feeding means, comprising: a frame havinga sheet input region for receiving sheets from the sheet feeding means;a carriage having a plurality of uniformly spaced bins; means forguiding said carriage on said frame in substantially vertical movementtherealong so that said bins successively pass adjacent to said inputregion; a motor; and a transmission coupling said motor to said carriageto move it along said frame, said transmission including a pair ofsubstantially elliptical gears mounted for one rotation at everymovement of said carriage by a distance equal to the spacing of saidbins along said carriage, a first of said gears driving a second of saidgears to move said carriage, said first gear having a portion ofsmallest radius engaged with a portion of said second gear of greatestradius substantially as each bin reaches a position to receive a sheetfrom said sheet input region; said transmission also including a worm, aworm gear engaged by said worm, and meaNs coupling said worm gear tosaid carriage to move it up and down, and said transmission alsoincludes means coupling said motor to said worm selectively through saidsubstantially elliptical gears to move said carriage downwardly orthrough a transmission portion that bypasses said elliptical gears tomove said carriage upwardly, whereby rapid acceleration of said carriageduring indexing of the bins can be accomplished with a minimum of power.7. Apparatus for collating sheets from a sheet feeding means,comprising: a frame having an input opening for receiving sheets fromthe sheet feeding means, and having an output opening; a carriagemounted for vertical movement on said frame; a plurality of bins mountedon said carriage so they are vertically spaced from each other; anoverflow conveyor mounted above the uppermost of said bins, including apair of rollers respectively adjacent to said input and output openingsand a belt extending in a closed path about said rollers; means fordetecting sheets at said input openings; means responsive to saiddetecting means for downwardly indexing said carriage so that said binsand then said overflow conveyor are successively positioned oppositesaid input opening; and means for raising said carriage at asubstantially constant speed, and then stopping it when the lowermost ofsaid bins is positioned opposite said input opening.
 8. The apparatusdescribed in claim 7 including: a reproducing machine for makingmultiple copies of a document, said reproducing machine having areproducing machine output positioned adjacent to said input opening ofsaid frame to feed copies thereto, and having electrical signaling meanswhich operate when the last of a group of multiple copies of onedocument passes through said reproducing machine output; and drive meansmounted in said frame and coupled to said signaling means and to saidcarriage for immediately moving said carriage upwardly to its uppermostposition upon the operation of said signaling means.